Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Situated close to Bhavan's college in Andheri (west), Gilbert Hill is a rare and unique volcanic structure that is now in the danger of collapsing because of haphazard growth of buildings around it.

It is a 200-foot (61 m) monolith column of black basalt rock in Andheri, in Mumbai, India. The rock has a sheer vertical face and was created when molten lava was squeezed out of the earth's clefts during the Mesozoic Era about 65 million years ago. This hill has been declared as a Heritage structure since September 2007. The Bombay HC has directed an IIT-Powai team to survey the hill and suggest measures for its protection.It has also stayed all constructions around the hill.

According to experts, this rare geological phenomenon was the remnants of a ridge and had clusters of vertical columns in nearby Jogeshwari which were quarried off two decades ago.These vertical columns are similar to the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, and the Devils Postpile National Monument in eastern California, USA.

The way up is by a steep staircase carved into the rock.

Right on top is the Gaodevi Durgamata Mandir set in a small garden.

Once you reach the top the panoramic views of Mumbai are breathtaking.

Getting there : If you drive down from the south, take the left (opp. NADCO shopping center),after the Andheri East-West linking bridge and then ask for directions to the Gaodevi Mandir. If you take public transport, get off at Andheri Railway station (West) and take an autorickshaw which should not cost you more than Rs.20/- depending on the traffic conditions. One can even walk it up from the railway station. Should not take more than half an hour.